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The automatic qualifying for the 2018 Ryder Cup team is over and we now know the identities of the first eight players who will represent Team Europe at Le Golf National later this month.

Seven players had already confirmed their places on the team before this week’s final events, leaving Thorbjorn Olesen, Matt Fitzpatick and Eddie Pepperell to slug it out for the eighth and final automatic place at the Made In Denmark tournament. 

Now that it is over, we know that the final spot has gone to…

Thorbjorn Olesen

Thorbjorn Olesen

The Dane will make his first appearance on the team, appropriately captained by his compatriot Thomas Bjorn. He’ll be joined by:

Francesco Molinari (ITA)

Rory McIlroy (NIR)

Jon Rahm (SPA)

Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)

Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)

Justin Rose (ENG)

Alex Noren (SWE)

Five of the eight – Olesen, Rahm, Fleetwood, Hatton and Noren – are rookies. 

• Marc Leishman shanks one, hits fan, makes most unlikely birdie you’ll ever see

• Check out our guide to the ugliest US Ryder Cup outfits of all time

The first eight American qualifiers were confirmed following the US PGA Championship three weeks ago. You can find out who they are here.

European captain Thomas Bjorn will pick four more players to round out his side on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports Golf at 2pm. 

• Just brilliant! Eddie Pepperell trolls Masters champion Patrick Reed

Before that, US skipper Jim Furyk will announce the first three of his four picks on Tuesday, with the fourth to follow after next week’s BMW Championship.

The 2018 Ryder Cup takes place at Le Golf National in Paris from September 28-30.


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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